Photoshop brushes help you create custom effects in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Here is an example of bubbles created using a free custom brush (created by Shelby Kate Schmitz):
As soon as I saw that, I wanted to make bubbles in Photoshop! So, I am going to downlad the free brush and try it out. I have downloaded other people’s brushes before and then totally forgot I had them. So, this time I am actually going try using this brush set before I forget! These free brushes will work with Photoshop 7 and later versions and Photoshop Elements 2 and up. See my step-by-step instructions on loading and using a Photoshop brush.
You can find the brush sets and instructions here: http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshopbrushes/ss/sksbrushes.htm. But I am going to go into some detail about downloading and using them (in case it will help anyone).
I started out by creating a folder (called photoshop brushes) to download them to (so I could know where the download went!). Then I went to the folder and saw a file named SKS-bubbles.abr. I just copied that file (select the file, right click and then select copy). Next I navigated to the Photoshop presets\brushes folder (see below for the exact location for the PC). I made sure I was in that folder and used right click, paste. Voila, the file is there now.
Note: If you cannot find some of the folders I mentioned above, go to the Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab, and make sure “Hidden files and folders” is set to Show, then click OK.
How to install free brushes in Photoshop:
- Put the *.abr file into: Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop X\Presets\Brushes where X is the version number for your version of Photoshop.
- Go to the Brushes Pallette in Photoshop, find the little down arrow and select load brushes to add them to your set of brushes.
Instructions for Photoshop Elements – You buy a program called Add-O-Matic!
(if you use Photoshop Elements 5, 6, or 7). The link to graphicssoft earlier on this page will take you to information about that. But I will walk through the free way to add the brushes to Photoshop Elements below.
How to install Photoshop Elements Brushes:
Note: You have to close Photoshop Elements first.
Windows: Download and place the *.abr files into the program files on your computer. If you are in the file manager look for: Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements X\Presets\Brushes where X is the version number for your version of Photoshop Elements.
Mac: Place the *.abr files into: Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Brushes
Brushes created in Photoshop 7 or later will not work in older versions of Photoshop Elements (such as version 2 and earlier). Any Photoshop brushes should work in Photoshop Elements 3 and later.
Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac: Place the *.asl files in: Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/Presets/Styles
You can also check out other free brushes, custom shapes and custom layer styles on the website I referenced above. The instructions are good and they cover Photoshop and Photoshop Elements for the PC and for the MAC.
Have fun (and see the detailed instructions here)!
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